Jeep Enthusiasts Are a Bit Fanatical and That’s a Good Thing!

Since the Jeep brand’s beginnings more than 75 years ago, the brand has gained an unusually loyal group of customers in comparison to other automakers. There are a countless number of Jeep groups around the world, and each year there are hundreds of gatherings that people meet to cruise in their Jeep’s together, modify their Jeep vehicles and just hang out. And just recently that unique following has led to the Jeep brand being named as a “Cult Brand” Hororee by The Gathering.

The Gathering

The Gathering is an exclusive gathering of brand leaders focused on exposing the principles and practices employed by the world’s most successful brands. Since its beginnings in 2013, members of The Gathering have met to evaluate brand’s and their engagement with their consumers and fans. This year’s The Gathering took place in Banff, Alberta, Canada and eight brands, including Jeep, were honored for their unique and exceptional ways of connecting and engaging with consumers.

Jeep Brand Cult Brand Recognition

Jeep is the only automotive brand honored as one of The Gatherings’ cult brands.

“Having the Jeep brand acknowledged as a Cult Brand Honoree, just as the all-new 2018 Jeep Wrangler and new 2019 Jeep Cherokee begin to arrive in dealerships, is a testament to the people who since 1941 have dedicated themselves to building the world’s most capable SUVs with off-road capability that is second to none,” said Mike Manley, Head of Jeep Brand – FCA. “The global Jeep community is like no other. There is no other automotive brand that is so instantly recognizable and woven into the history of its home nation yet recognized around the world, and one that is protected with such a passion by its owners, fans and followers.”

Signature Jeep Traits

Here’s a quick look at some of the most classic Jeep traits and Jeep traditions. Some of the traditions stem from Jeep’s roots as a military vehicle in World War II and others have started in more recent years.

Seven Slot Grille: The roots of the Jeep brand began with the Wrangler, which was originally the Willys MB and it was designed by Willys-Overland. The model was created to be used in WWII and originally models had a nine-slot grille, but the nine-slot grille was actually a design borrowed from Ford, so when Willys wanted to turn the Willys MB into a vehicle for civilians they had to drop Ford’s nine-slot grille design to get a patent, so they came up with a seven-slot grille design. Ever since the creation of the first civilian Jeep, every Jeep model has always a seven-slot grille.

Jeep Wave: There is actually a wave that Jeepers commonly use acknowledge other Jeepers on the road and though the gesture is fairly nonchalant, there is a ton of background behind the reasons for the wave. If you want to read more about the origins of the Jeep Wave, visitbushwacker.com/blog/how-to/the-jeep-wave.

Easter Jeep Safari: The Easter Jeep Safari started in Moab, Utah in 1967 and the event has grown into a huge annual gathering of Jeepers from around the world. The event is a multi-day event in which Jeepers head out to take on some of Moab’s most challenging courses. The 2018 Easter Jeep Safari is scheduled from March 24 to April 1.

Jeep 4×4 Tours: Hundreds of companies around the world offer organized 4×4 group tours that allow guests to get a more personal look at the wildlife and landscape that isn’t easily accessible by foot or non-4×4 vehicles, and without a doubt, Jeep is the most trusted and popular vehicle used by various companies.

Want to become a member of the Jeep family? Head to Hollywood Chrysler Jeep, we have a huge selection of Jeep models and Jeep parts. We also host a few different Jeep club events, so if you are looking for ways to get involved, reach out to us on social media!